Happy Holidays!

Image from Concord Community Church/Salvation Army
Please remember those with less in this time
when we want more.  

I just want to wish all of my YCMs and YCFs a Merry Christmas and I hope that you and yours enjoyed your day.

One of my favorite Christmas songs...Whitney's voice will bring you to tears

I think I'm falling in love with you

Yes...I finally heard those words and they were the most beautiful things to my ears.

When things fall apart

I love this book

Don't you hate it when a plan doesn't come together?

Where in the hell was Santa?

Yesterday I went out with MIB and my aunt and other cousins to visit and take pictures of Santa at Walgreen's; but Santa wasn't there and I am still trying to find him.

Family Friday - Cardboard Gingerbread House

Do you see the attack of the killer snow?
I REFUSE to go out in that unless necessary.
Notice the leaning trees from the wind...

Baby, it's snowing outside and it's too cold to do anything out there or to go anywhere after sunset. 

Day 20

And I don't have much to say...

Something I've been lacking on a daily basis is...

Energy at work.  I am always tired, sluggish, and just not wanting to be there lol.  But I've been doing some things lately that have been helping me out.

Confucius says...

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life" - Confucius

All work makes for a tired Mommy

And unfortunately, that is how my life goes.

Plan to work...work the plan

Something that I need to do and I just haven't been. 

I was so busy today I almost forgot..

...to get a post in for this month's NaBloPoMo.

How do we protect our kids with words from home?

It's top news this morning, the Connecticut elementary school massacre that claimed the lives of 27 people, 18 (eighteen!) of them young children.

Depending on who I'm around...

For the most part who I am at home is who I am at work...until I have to deal with people who make 5 times as much as me.

My "I was too tired last night to post" post

Yes, the title says it all.

His Misery is My Happiness

I am going to take a break from NaBloPoMo to talk about something that has been tearing at me for a while and I've finally allowed myself to let it go.

My 100th Post

Today's NaBloPoMo prompt is: If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

I like the benefits...

The title says it all.

Working from home and MIB help

This weekend I had to do a few hours of work from home.  I hated to do it but it had to be done.  MIB hates it when I have to work but I've figured out how to get her involved. 

Lazy Saturdays and Light Shows

Today was a lazy day...I said to myself on Friday that I was going to sleep "all the way in," and I did.

Nadia G and "It's Christmas Time"

Anyone who knows me knows that I love cooking shows and one of my favorite shows is on the Cooking channel (not to be confused with Food Network).

By myself

After a long day at work dealing with crazy gossipy coworkers, bratty customers, and insanity all around...the best way for me to relax is to be by myself.

YCM Events

Hey all, as we continue in NaBloPoMo's theme of "work" for December, I want to introduce a new page on my blog that will involve a little bit of work.  I want to start showcasing events that occur in southeastern Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Wauwatosa, Waukesha, Glendale, Brookfield, Shorewood, and other surrounding areas) and the Chicago and surrounding area that are about kids, family, and YCMs (and YCFs too :).

After I get off of work, I usually don't do as much as I'd like with MIB because of several things: no energy, no time, no money, or no idea.  Since I have this issue, I'd imagine that other YCM/YCFs have the same problems and would like to go to a site to get information on local (and semi-local) events that cater to our kids, our family, and ourselves. 

The events that I'd like to showcase on a daily/weekly basis are not just about story time, arts and crafts, or the zoo.  I hope that folks offer up ideas for cultural shows, book clubs, martini nights, or even brunch.  Because YCM/YCFs need play time just as much as MIBs.  

So here is my criteria for YCMs Events:

1. I need notification of said event at LEAST two days in advance. 
2. Information about said event should include: dates, time, address, website, age range, if it is for adults, children, or both, phone number, contact person, cost, and any other special information about said event
3. Events can be from ANYONE: clubs, restaurants, libraries, art museums, whatever.  
4. Please do not send any sexually explicit material or events to be featured in the YCM Events page. 
5. When sending the request, please place all information in the body of the email and not in an attachment.  Only text (for now) will be used to promote YCM events.  HTML and other specialized event promos will come in the future. 
6. Oh...and the requests and posts are FREE.  Yeah...I said it: FREE.

If you are a business or non-profit (especially non-profits...my first job was at a non-profit when I was 14 and I have a soft spot for them) please submit all events with the information mentioned above here.  You will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of submission.  All events will be posted at least one day before the event and taken down the day after the event is over.  Events that are extended or have multiple dates (like every Saturday in the month of December) will remain until the day after the last day of the event. Any questions please email me here.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing all of the events going on in our community!

If you have any YCM questions for me and Thursday's Thoughts...please submit them here!

I need to vent...

Since this month's NaBloPoMo is all about work, this is the perfect way for me to vent about the nonsense that has been going on at my job. 

I love MIB y'all

"Mommy...I cleaned up the living room for you!  All by myself!"

That's a really good question...

What am I a pro at?

Daddy...

It's been 13 years since you've been gone...

Hair time...

Today is hair wash day...I should've done it yesterday, but it got late, I got tired, and this is a process.

World Aids Day 2012: Are you aware?

Family Friday: Making Homemade Products

MIB and I both have thick, unruly, dry, natural hair.  And when it is hair day (and I mean it takes a day for me to do her hair) it is an event.  It took me a while to find the right products for her hair and when I did, I realized that it was too much for my wallet.  So, I searched the internet, did some research on different shea butter recipes, and she and I made the best hair and skin concoction for less than a third of what I was going to pay.

The Phone: MIB's first phone call to a classmate

So today MIB came home and said that she got her friend's phone number.

For December it's all about NaBloPoMo

I am SO excited to be part of BlogHer's National Blog Posting Month aka NaBloPoMo.

I hope they throw all the books at your tail

So last week we got a robocall from MIB's school stating that someone was arrested at the school and that the new principal was working diligently to help the school board fix the problem.

Family Friday - Christmas Light Shows

From the MACC Fund website

I know that we JUST got finished eating turkey, but it's never too early to start looking at Christmas lights! 

Happy Thanksgiving from YCM and Thursday's Thoughts

Happy Thanksgiving YCMs, YCFs, and MIBs.

Sunday Savings (a day or so late...)

My CVS purchase on Sunday

So I have brought back my Sunday Savings and yesterday I really got back into couponing a little bit.  I didn't actually have any real coupons but CVS has such a deal for things that I needed anyway that I went in there half cocked and not at all prepared.

Family Friday: The library

I had been trying to find something for me and MIB to do today and since my last post was about story time between parents and their children I figured I'd run with that theme.

MIB and I went to the library today to get her first library card!  I'm so happy and excited for her.  As a child, reading was (and still is, when I get time) my favorite hobby.  To me, there is nothing like losing and transporting yourself in a story.  And thankfully, I've instilled the love of the written word in MIB.

From the minute she was born, I was always reading something to her; just like my parents did when I was a child.  Newspapers, magazines, the back of cereal boxes, whatever.  I turn the closed caption on the tv when she's watching cartoons and give her a bedtime story every night.  Sometimes, she reads a bedtime story to ME. 

I'm just glad that she developed a love for books early and I hope that she continues to see the value and joy of books for a long time.
 
YCM'S, how do you keep literary love and appreciation high in your household?

Stories from Jail - The Book Bridge Program

MIB is four years old and is on a 2nd-3rd grade reading level because someone read to her every night: me or Nani.  One person that never read to her was her father. 

Mommy Monday: Quitting Life and Getting Help

What does your day look like?

Something New...

I've always wanted to do this but I finally got the guts to do it...

Family Friday: Movie Night or any other School Function

Earlier this evening I went to Movie Night at my daughter's school, and it was one of the better family Fridays I've had in a while.

Words of Wisdom Wednesdays: What's next?

That has been my question since President Obama was re-elected last night.  I've been asking it of others...but now it is time for me to ask it of myself.

Four more...

Courtesy of the Chicago Tribune

VOTE!

Residents of the city of Milwaukee...Tomorrow is election day. Go vote. Simple as that.

If you haven't registered, you can register on election day and must meet the following requirements:

• Lived at your current address for at least 28 days with no intent to move
• Provide an acceptable proof of residence document that includes your current and complete name, residential address, and an account, document, or identification number and MUST be from one of the following:
• Current and valid Wisconsin driver's license or identification card
• Official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit
• Identification card issued by an employer in the normal course of business and bearing a photo of the card holder (not including a business card)
• Real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of election 
• ID card issued by a university, college, or technical college in Wisconsin that contains the cardholder's photo, together with a fee payment receipt issued to the cardholder by the university, college or technical college dated no earlier than 9 months before the date of the election at which the receipt is presented 
• A gas, electric, or phone service statement (utility bill) for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before the election
• A bank statement
• A check or other document issued by a governmental unit
• Pay check
• Residential lease which is effective for a period that includes Election day 

Information acquired from City of Milwaukee official website

If you think you are a registered voter but aren't sure visit the State's Voter Public Access website.  Once you find out if you are a registered voter, you can also look at a sample ballot for your area.

You can also call 414-286-VOTE (8683) to find out more information about where you can vote only if you live in Milwaukee county.  For residents in the state of Wisconsin you can visit the State's Voter Public Access website to find out your polling location.

If you have problems at your polling location or want to report election violations you can call Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office at 414-278-4645.

Polls open at 7 am and close at 8 pm in the state of Wisconsin...so if you didn't vote early, you will have plenty of time to vote tomorrow.

Like I said before...who you vote for is your business...just vote.  I will...

If you voted, let me know...tweet your "I voted" sticker under #YCMIVoted!

Mommy Mondays - Job Action Day

After five and a half long years at my job as a temp, they finally got some fat on their heads and decided to hire me (FINALLY).  And as much as I say they get on my nerves, I hate my job, and the rest of moaning and groaning I do about my job...I am certainly glad that I have one.  I could be like the 14.6% of women in my situation that are currently unemployed and trying to take care of a family.

I'm Back...

So I have been hiatus for quite a while and have been wanting to get back into the blogging life.

I've missed writing and sharing my story (as crazy as it can be) and was trying to figure out when to start, how to get a blogging schedule going, what I want my focus to be...I just didn't know.

So today, after work and errands and finally putting MiniMe to sleep, I just said to myself "screw it, I'm just gonna start."  Consider this the first day back to YCM.

All of my internal debates weren't wasted though.  I did figure out that I wanted to be more proactive and helpful in my blog.  I feel like I did more complaining than helping in my posts...so hopefully this time around I'm able to be a better blogger, listener, helper, YCM :).

I hope that you all enjoy what I have in store for you...it will be slow to start because it's been almost (if not longer than) a year since I've written anything so I'm a little rusty and need to get the kinks out.  But I do believe that I'll find my groove again...

I've been in a funk because of issues at home (sick mother), at work (hate my job sometimes...but damn glad to have one), and with myself (still trying to get this weight off).  And this funk and constant doing and running kept me from doing the one thing that I loved more than any other profession I've participated in: writing.

This isn't professional (for now...here's hoping)...but it is therapeutic, it makes me happy, and makes me feel like I have a purpose if just one person reads it and gets (hopefully) something out of it.

That's it...that's my testimony for today...and please leave comments, ask questions, let me know something! And until then, here are a few things I have planned:

• Ask YCM
• Product reviews 
• Sunday savings WILL be back with a force
• Weight loss Wednesdays (since I'm back on my Weight Watchers...this is an extra incentive for me to get the weight off and to be...accountable for it)

Hopefully y'all will like it and keep coming back...:o)